Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil

VENEZUELA: Lawyer Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil forced to leave the country following threats, harassment and attempts to criminalise him

13 February 2025

Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil is a human rights lawyer and advocacy coordinator for the organisation Iniciativa por una Justicia Igualitaria. Through his work, he has coordinated legal support for victims of persecution and arbitrary detention in Venezuela and has denounced acts of corruption. He has also worked as a deputy investigator in cases related to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into Venezuela.

Because of his professional practice, Omar Mendoza has been subjected to threats, harassment and attempts to criminalise him and his family. His situation has worsened since he took up the defence of the lawyer Jecson Ricardo Cariel[1], who has been arbitrarily detained since August 2022.

Out of concern for the lack of due process in legal proceedings against criminalised human rights defenders, Omar Mendoza decided to flee the country in order to protect his life and freedom. The lawyer claims to have been the victim of extraterritorial persecution outside Venezuela.

Recently, in the context of the 28 July 2024 elections in Venezuela, several commissions from the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) visited his home in Venezuela. Omar Mendoza denounces the cancellation of his passport, which has also affected other lawyers and human rights defenders in reprisal for their work.

The Observatory is extremely concerned by these acts of intimidation, which jeopardise the free and independent practice of law and effective access to justice for victims.

The Observatory calls on the Venezuelan authorities to cease all attacks on lawyer Omar Antonio Mendoza Gil and other human rights lawyers in Venezuela.

The Observatory is also calling for the release of lawyer Jecson Ricardo Cariel, who has been arbitrarily detained since August 2022.

The Observatory recalls that, in compliance with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular principles 16, 17 and 18:

“Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (b) are able to travel and to consult with their clients freely both within their own country and abroad; and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.” (Principle 16)

“Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.” (Principle 17)

“Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.” (Principle 18)

[1] Alerte de l’OIAD : https://protect-lawyers.org/item/jecson-ricardo-cariel-garcia-2/